IRISH RESPONSE: SUSTAINING PRESSURE ON SYRIA TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000510 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO SUBJECT: IRISH RESPONSE: SUSTAINING PRESSURE ON SYRIA TO COMPLY FULLY WITH UNSCR 1559 REF: STATE 78006 Classified By: CDA Jonathan Benton for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) (C) On April 28, Charge delivered reftel talking points to Colm O'Floinn, Deputy Political Director, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Pol/Econ Chief also brought the points up with Stephen Dawson, Acting Regional Director - Middle East and North Africa, DFA. O'Floinn noted general agreement between the U.S. and Irish governments' desired end result: Support for Lebanon and full implementation of UNSCR ¶1559. He made no commitments or substantive comments regarding our requests for election monitors and designation of Hizballah by the EU Clearinghouse. He said that the Middle East and counterterrorism sections of the DFA would provide a more substantive response as soon as possible. (Note: To date, Ireland has opposed designating Hizballah.) BENTON